We’re happy to announce Justin Swan as the newest member of our team! Swan, 37, will serve as Mind Meets Music’s director of advancement and oversee fund development and guide marketing strategies.

Before coming to Mind Meets Music, Swan launched Grand Rapids’ first curbside composting program, Organicycle, in 2011 and helped usher modern waste and recycling strategies to West Michigan. After five years of leading operations, sales and marketing at Organicycle, Justin joined Hope Network Foundation, leading an effort to do things differently from a fundraising standpoint – replacing outdated methods with new, innovative, and immersive experiences for the philanthropic community.

Swan holds a bachelor of sciences from Grand Valley State University, and has experience in non-profit and higher education before becoming an entrepreneur where he was twice recognized as a Forty Under 40 Business Leader.

“I am thrilled to join Mind Meets Music because it is one of the boldest and most effective early-learning platforms you’re going to find in America,” said Swan. “It is a privilege to work with the philanthropic community that is investing in the next generation, and the opportunity to share with them the evidence-based outcomes music is having on literacy, math and social-emotional learning in our classrooms is a tremendous honor.”

“Justin’s talent, experience and enthusiasm make him a great fit for the Mind Meets Music leadership team,” said Monique Salinas PhD, Mind Meets Music’s founder and executive director. “As we continue to grow as an organization, we take great pride in selecting the best people to help us better achieve our mission of building academic success for today’s children and shaping the minds of tomorrow’s leaders. I believe Justin’s efforts will help us reach more students and make a positive impact on their academic futures.”